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The three individuals who are elected to the water and wastewater utility in south Lee County next month will receive more than a seat and the satisfaction of serving.

They’ll get a paycheck and benefits from Bonita Springs Utilities.

The member-owned utility pays each of its nine board members $10,085.40 a year, plus about $13,000 in annual benefits.

“I’ve got some mixed feelings about it. On the other hand, we are running roughly a $40 million business,” said Bob Bachman, board president and a board member since 2000.

Founded in 1971, the utility’s board was a volunteer group until about a decade ago.

“We were doing massive amounts of growth and trying to keep up and spending lots of hours,” Bachman said. “The City Council was in place at that time and being compensated. The fire board was being compensated.”

The monthly stipend was initially $500 and has been adjusted over the years. It stands at $840.45.

“One of the things we historically tried to do was to encourage local businessmen to be active in the utility, and we began offering health insurance to them as part of the incentive to run,” said Fred Partin, executive director.

“Some board members took the insurance and others didn’t. So to be equitable about it we paid them the difference.”

Bonita Springs City Council members, who are elected by vote, do not receive the cash equivalent. For example, council members Steve McIntosh, Steven Slachta, Bill Lonkart and Mike Gibson receive an annual salary of $16,453.32. Councilwoman Janet Martin receives $21,496.80 in salary and benefits, Councilman Peter Simmons receives $31,255.80 in salary and benefits, and Mayor Ben Nelson receives $41,914.68 in salary and benefits.

The policymaking utility board meets twice a month. In addition, each board member serves on at least two committees that meet periodically, depending on the issues. Committees include finance, operations, engineering, administration, customer service, information technology and ethics. The board also has an annual day-long planning retreat, and most members attend functions such as open houses.

Partin said budgeting $240,000 a year, or less than 1 percent of annual expenses, to compensate directors for their time and effort is worth the cost.

“All of the board are also members. We’re not looking to raise rates for any of us. We get to pay the same bills as everyone else,” Bachman said. “The board overall takes great pride in the fact that we’re doing the right things.”

In 2013, the utility refinanced 2003 bonds, reducing the interest rate from 5 percent to 1.26 percent, and paid down existing debt, saving $11.5 million in interest.

Standard & Poor’s recently upgraded its rating of BSU from AA- to AA, considering its $116 million debt burden moderate.

The Bonita Taxpayer Action Group advocates reducing the board from nine to five members.

Partin said the board increased from seven to nine members shortly after forming. “It was too much work (for seven members),” he said.

Other boards such as the Florida Governmental Utility Authority’s seven-member volunteer board meets monthly, including a Lee County representative, serves Lehigh Acres’ 12,800 water and 8,800 wastewater customers.

The Island Water Association, which serves 10,567 units, or 5,068 water meters, on Sanibel and most of Captiva, also has a volunteer board who meets monthly.